Hilltoppers Record Six Extra-Base Hits in 9-7 Loss at Lipscomb

Wednesday, March 13

Nashville, Tenn.

4 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

Lipscomb

Hilltoppers Record Six Extra-Base Hits in 9-7 Loss at Lipscomb

3/13/2019 10:01:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four Hilltoppers delivered multi-hit performances for WKU Softball on Wednesday from Nashville despite the squad suffering a 9-7 loss to Lipscomb in a final tune-up before conference play begins. Shannon Plese, Paige Carter, Rebekah Engelhardt and Taylor Davis all racked up two hits as the Hilltoppers scored at least once in each of the day's final five innings. On the day, five different WKU players struck for the team's six extra-base hits with Engelhardt registering both a double and home run.

WKU Softball moved to 15-5 on the year with its third-straight setback while Lipscomb improved to 15-7-1.

Lipscomb struck first, plating a pair on a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first after the Hilltoppers went down in order in the top of the frame. In the top of the second, WKU was able to put runners on the corners after a Kennedy Sullivan base hit followed by a fielding error that allowed Morgan McElroy to reach, but both runners would end up stranded.

The Hilltoppers retired Lipscomb in order in the bottom of the second before striking for three runs to take the lead in their next trip to the plate. Taylor Davis led off the inning with a chopper over the third baseman's glove before Shannon Plese reached on an infield single of her own. After two Hilltopper outs, Kendall Smith stepped into the box and cranked the first pitch she saw out of the park for a three-run homerun and the 3-2 WKU lead.

After Hilltopper starting pitcher Kelsey Aikey allowed a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third, Shelby Nunn relieved her in the circle. At one point, Nunn would face the bases loaded with no outs before striking out the next two batters. However, WKU couldn't quite escape as the Lady Bisons would deliver a bases-clearing triple for the 5-3 advantage.

In the Red and White's return trip to the plate, Rebekah Engelhardt got things going with a leadoff double down the right line before Morgan McElroy dropped a sacrifice bunt to move her to third. Davis followed with her second infield single of the day to plate Engelhardt and bring the Tops back within one.

WKU added another tally in the top of the fifth after Paige Carter led off with a double off the wall and went on to steal third. Two batters later, Engelhardt skied a popup between the plate and first base that Lipscomb couldn't glove which allowed Carter to score and knot the contest at 5-5. In the bottom half of the inning, the Hilltopper defense made three great plays to send the Lipscomb hitters back to the dugout in order.

The Red and White kept the bats hot in the top of the sixth as Plese connected for a double to left field – her second hit of the game – before Haylee Towers sent a double of her own to the right-center gap to bring Plese around to score for a 6-5 lead. Towers' knock was her first hit of the season.

At that point, Carter struck for her second hit of the day and proceeded to swipe her second base but would end up stranded.

After getting the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the next three Lipscomb batters drew walks before the Lady Bisons' cleanup batter connected for a grand slam to put the hosts back in front at 9-6.

Finally out of the sixth, Engelhardt kept the Hilltoppers' hopes alive sending a one-out solo home run over the left field wall to pull WKU back within two. The Red and White sent back-to-back pinch hitters to the plate to close out the game but neither would end up on base.

Freshman pitcher Kennedy Sullivan took the loss, moving to 10-2 on the season. She worked the game's final 2.2 frames in the circle.

WKU out-hit Lipscomb 11-4 in the decision for the squad's most hits in a loss this season.

NEXT GAME: WKU Softball will continue its 12-game road stretch this weekend as the squad heads to Miami to open Conference USA action at FIU. The three-game series will open on Saturday with a doubleheader slated for 3 p.m. CT before the third contest takes place on Sunday at 11 a.m.

How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.